Between 1934 and 1958 Sheppard illustrated well over 100books. The majority of these date from the 1950’s when Sheppardwas often illustrating as many as ten a year – a prodigiousrate tragically cut short by his death at the age of 45. Commissionsfrom over fifteen publishing houses (Hutchinson, Blackieand Son, Macmillan, Oxford University Press, Faber and Faber)included illustrations for leading authors of the day such as EnidBlyton, (two books in 1948 as well contributing to a regular annualshe wrote all the stories for), Jim Corbett (six titles between1947 and 1955) and, perhaps most notable of all, a commissionin 1952 (shared with Tunnicliffe) to illustrate Ernest Hemingway’sThe Old Man and the Sea.

Equally successful was Sheppard’s career as an illustrator for comicssuch as Eagle, Girl, and Swift, and magazines such as Boy’s OwnPaper, Lilliput, Everbody’s, Picture Post, and Reynolds News. Lilliputwas founded in 1937 by Stefan Lorant , (the photo journalist wholater created Picture Post), with a subtitle of “The Pocket Magazinefor Everyone.” Its original size was allegedly such that it could beslipped into a soldier’s trenchcoat and was no doubt read in manyan air-raid shelter in that handy size. During its 23 year run themagazine contained the illustrations of Mervyn Peake, Eric Fraser,Frank Bellamy (of Dan Dare fame) and, perhaps most famously,Ronald Searle’s cartoon series St. Trinians. The magazine becameknown for its photographs too, with work by Brassai, ZoltanGlass and also Bill Brandt. The magazine subtitle was changedin September 1954 to “Lilliput is a Man’s Magazine” . From astarting position of 216,562 in 1938 - double that of Punch at thetime - by May 1959 Lilliput was only selling circa102,000 copies- number 277, July 1960, was the last issue at which point it wasmerged with Men Only.